The Ghost Lioness of Phantom Moon

Chapter 6 - A New Home

When they arrived at Nova’s house, she opened the door and waved Caelan and Ellie inside. She closed and locked the door behind her so no one would interrupt their conversation. Nova gestured to the couch and she sat on the chair.

“Lady Promos, you said you wanted to discuss something with me. How can I be of service to noblemen?” she asked.

“Ellie and I have been searching for someone to hire to work at our manor. We are in need of a guardian. We have a maid, a cook, a gardener, and three butlers. Would you accept the position of guardian?” Caelan asked. Nova sat in silence for a moment. She asked the Goddess what the right path for her was. She felt an urge to accept.

“Would the others welcome someone like me? I’m not exactly human.”

“Let’s just say the others are also very unique.” Ellie said. Nova thought for a few more moments before there was a knock at the door. She excused herself and answered. All of the mothers were gathered outside of her door. She gestured for them to wait for a moment, then closed the door.

“The mothers are outside. I think they have more questions on what happened. I’ll only be a moment.” she said. Caelan stood.

“May we join you outside? We might be able to answer some questions as well as we were witnesses to the men surrounding you.” he offered. Nova smiled a bit and nodded. She opened the door and allowed Caelan and Ellie to exit first. She closed the door behind her and turned to face the women.

“What happened today? Jessie told us what she knew, but we need more than that. What made the men turn on you like that?” Sasha asked. Caelan stepped forward.

“I believe I can answer that as I spoke to them while my wife was cleaning Nova’s wounds. John, I think his name was, said he saw Aya return to her home a few nights ago covered in blood. He watched as she shifted and went inside her house. He then took the next few days to gather the men and told them what he saw. They all formed a plan to get rid of her, believing she was a monster that would kill and eat all of the children.” The women all had shocked and horrified looks on their faces. They knew Nova and Aya would never do anything like that. They understood why Nova only told them and the children about her being a shifter. They asked more questions and either Nova, Caelan, or Ellie answered them. Once they finished, they left to return to their own houses. Nova went back inside with Caelan and Ellie.

“I will accept your offer, Lord Promos. Not only because I am no longer safe here, but because I think I was meant to. I just need to do a couple things before I can leave. Are you okay to wait here?” Nova asked. Caelan and Ellie nodded. Nova left the house and went to the wolf pack. The guard let her through and she went to the pack house.

“Alpha Jonathan, I need to leave the village. The men found out about me and attacked me earlier. I will be living with a couple who hired me to guard their manor. Will you and the other wolves continue to watch over the village? The women and children are wonderful, it is only the men you need to be careful of.” Alpha Jonathan hugged Nova and promised to guard the village.

“We’ll miss you around here, Nova. You’re always welcome to visit if you're ever in the area. This is your home, too.” he said. Nova thanked him and returned to the village. She asked the women and children to meet her at the entrance in a half hour. She returned to her house to pack a few things and told Caelan and Ellie she was ready. When they got to the entrance, she was stopped.

“You’re leaving us, aren't’ you?” Jessie asked. Nova knelt down beside her and hugged her.

“I’m sorry. I have to leave, Jessie. I’m not safe here anymore. If I keep getting attacked by all the dads, I can’t keep bad wolves from attacking you. I asked the nice wolves to keep you all safe for me. I’ll miss all of you very much, but I have to go to my new home. Thank you all for being my friends.” Nova said and stood. The children all gave her a group hug, then the women joined in. When they let go, Nove made her way to the carriage Caelan and Ellie arrived in. They were already seated. Nova bowed deeply to the village and got into the carriage. She sat across from Caelan and Ellie, her small bag on the floor between her feet.

“Are you ready to go home?” Ellie asked. Nova wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. Caelan knocked on the roof of the carriage, and it started moving. Nova watched as the scenery passed them by. She fell asleep not too far into the ride. She was plagued by a nightmare from several decades ago.

She was on her way home from work when she felt the sudden urge to rush home. She felt that her family was in danger. When she burst through the door, she was stopped in her tracks when she saw a man standing over the prone forms of her family. He had a gun in his hand. She started to lunge for him, but he shot her with a dart. Whatever was in the dart made her too weak to shift, and she fell to the floor. She watched as the man called someone forward. She was forced to watch as her husband, daughter, and son were butchered in front of her. She was too weak to stop it, too weak to save them. She cried out in anguish as the pain of the mate bond severed. After the man left, she was alone with the dismembered bodies of her family. Their blood was everywhere. She could still hear their screams for her to save them. She held her mate’s head in her arms and screamed. She rocked back and forth, screaming until her voice was gone.

She was jolted awake when Ellie gently nudged her.

“Nova, we’re here. Are you alright? It seemed like you were having a nightmare. I couldn’t wake you til now.” she said. She had a concerned look on her face.

“I’m alright. Thank you for trying. It was something from a long time ago.” Nova replied with a small nod. She grabbed her bag and left the carriage. She stared up in awe at the enormous mansion in front of her. She was staring ahead when a voice called out.

“Master! Milady! You’re home!” a young man came running from the left side of the mansion. He was wearing a straw hat with a wide brim and a pink flower stitched into the top of it.

“Fallon, it’s good to see that you lot haven’t torn the manor to the ground. Go and fetch the others.” Caelan said. Fallon nodded and rushed off. Nova looked around the area and saw perfectly trimmed bushes along the driveway, lining the front of the manor, and on either side of the small staircase leading to the front door. The door opened and Fallon came outside with an older man, another man a few years older than Fallon, a young man with a large snake around his neck, and a young woman with very thick glasses. They all approached Caelan and Ellie. They bowed deeply and welcomed them home. They stood and looked at Nova. Caelan stepped forward.

“Allow me to make introductions. This is Fallon, our gardener. Barty, our cook. Molly, our maid. Travis, our head butler, and Cobra, one of our butlers. Everyone, this is Nova. She has agreed to be our guardian. Where is Sylas?”

“He said he had to take care of something at the townhouse. He’ll be back tonight. May I show Nova to her room?” Molly asked. Caelan nodded. Molly smiled and took Nova’s hand. She went to pull Nova toward the house, but Nova wouldn’t move. There was a look of fear in her eyes. She looked at Ellie and Caelan, a silent question between them. Ellie smiled softly and nodded her head. Nova nodded and took a deep breath.

“There’s something I need to show you all first. Could you all turn your backs for a moment?” she asked. The others shared a look, but complied. Once everyone had turned away from her, Nova took her clothes off and shifted. The sounds of breaking bones made everyone but Ellie turn around. She had already heard it when Aya shifted into Nova at the village. When Aya opened her eyes, everyone was looking at her with awe on their faces.

“That was amazing! How did you do that? I want to do that too!” Fallon shouted. They all crowded around her and touched her fur, complimenting how soft it was. When they were finished, Aya grabbed the clothes in her mouth and motioned for them to turn around again. After they did, she shifted and dressed.

“Thank you for accepting me and Aya. We’re very grateful.” Nova said and bowed to them.

“Who’s Aya?” Molly asked.

“You just met her. Her name is actually Ayakashi, but she prefers Aya.” Nova replied. Molly took her hand and guided her into the manor.

“Welcome home, Nova and Aya.” she said with a smile.